Noel Meade favouring Road To Respect for Champion Chase challenge
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Noel Meade is leaning towards running Road To Respect rather than stablemate Disko in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.
Road To Respect enjoyed a fantastic end to the last campaign, winning the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at the Cheltenham Festival before claiming the scalp of Yorkhill in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
He made a successful reappearance in the Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown earlier this month and could return to the highest level in County Antrim this weekend.
If Road To Respect does line up in the main event, his dual Grade One-winning stablemate Disko could contest the Grade Two chase on the same card.
Meade said: "Road To Respect is in great shape and I think there is every possibility he will run in the JNwine.com Champion Chase.
"It's unlikely that they will take each other on. If he runs in that, Disko could go for the two-and-a-half-mile novice race (MyCarNeedsA.com Chase).
"But if we thought conditions suited Disko better, we could swap them around.
"A lot depends on how Disko works through the week and how he is."
He added: "At the minute I can't say what way they are going to go, but I couldn't be happier with both horses.
"They are both in great shape and the target is to go there.
"You dream about having two horses like that and we'll touch wood that they will stay right."
Meade's stable jockey Sean Flanagan is likely to partner both horses on Saturday and is relishing the challenge.
He said: "This is when it all gets going, the first Grade One of the year, and it's great to look forward to things like that.
"Road To Respect rides really pacey over three-one (three miles and a furlong), so he's one to look forward to.
"Disko is a funny horse in a sense in that he travels really well and jumps great, but I wouldn't say he's over-quick.
"Road To Respect is a lot sharper horse. He travels in your hands, jumps really smart, and when you pull him together and he picks up, he's very quick as well. He's the full package really."
He added: "The horses are in super form. Road To Respect goes there off the back of a good run and Disko off the back of a good season.
"Separating them might be Noel's biggest job for the rest of the season.
"They're both in good nick and I'm looking forward to it."
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